Download the brochure - Office de tourisme

Rennes
and its heritage
City tours
Hôtel de Ville (City Hall)
Tour 1 h 15
Following the great fire of 23 December 1720 which destroyed
33 streets and 900 half-timbered houses and buildings,
the heart of the city had to be rebuilt. After Isaac Robelin,
Jacques V Gabriel (1667-1742), the King’s architect, took over.
On 23 May 1730, his project to “build a public edifice for immortality”
was accepted. This project incorporated the Hôtel
de Ville to the south, the courthouse to the north and the
clock tower in the centre. The soft lines of the curve refer
back to the great architects Le Vau and Hardouin-Mansart.
The history of the regional capital is depicted in the great hall,
with famous Bretons such as Duguay-Trouin, Laënnec, Renan,
Chateaubriand, etc.
The pantheon, built in 1922 in the entrance hall of the old
courthouse, commemorates the citizens of Rennes who died
in the 20 th century wars.
Saint-Yves Chapel Tour 1 h 00
This chapel, which is now home to the Tourist Information Centre,
was built as a hospital in the 15 th century. Now restored, it bears
witness to the elegance of flamboyant Gothic architecture and
houses the permanent exhibition Rennes, Metropolitan District
of art and history, which tells the story of how the regional capital
developed over time, through water, wood and stone.
Information leaflets are available to add discovery to pleasure
and there is a shop with many books on the city.
Extra services
Foreign language assistance:
Our heritage and history guides can help you with all
transfers to the railway station or Rennes St-Jacques
airport.
Rates
Guided tours: 5.90€* per person
(group of 20 people minimum - 30 people maximum)
Supplement foreign languages (English, German, Spanish,
Italian & Russian): €11 extra per guide*
Railway station rates: €66* / guide
Rates for Rennes St-Jacques airport:
€110* / guide
Supplement on Sundays and public holidays and
night (9pm-6am), plus travel expenses
where applicable.
*2012 rates
4
www.tourisme-rennes.com